Welcome back to the blog!
Today we explored the colonial history of the country’s sixth-largest city:
Philadelphia!
The city of Philly serves as the birthplace of our nation, with key iconic locations and landmarks such as Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, and Christ Church Burial Ground.
So, without further ado, let’s check it out!
The skyline of Philadelphia.. we do not explore most of the downtown area however, the historical areas are located closer to the river.
This is Philadelphia City Hall, which was actually just next to our parking garage! It looks a lot like a castle doesn’t it? Especially with that tower.
William Penn is the one that you might recognize on a tube of “Quaker Oats”. Under him, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia served as the lands for Quakers, the “Society of Friends”. The namesake for Philadelphia however, doesn’t directly correlate to the superstitions that Philadelphians aren’t all that nice.
A statue of Benjamin Franklin, the venerable polymath and founding father! His artisan work into printing began his long path to fame and importance.
After stopping at the visitor center to gather information about the various landmarks around the place, we set out to explore!
These ruins were where the original “President’s House”. Before Washington D.C. was founded, Philadelphia served as the capital for the fledgling United States. It was at this house that George Washington served as president, as well as John Adams (until he moved into the White House). This house was torn down on accident when the surrounding area was being remodeled.
Thankfully however, these foundations of the original house still remain. Many relics have likewise been found here as well.
A long mall of grass dominates the center of the historic sites. This is looking to the north, towards the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Visitor Center, and the National Constitution Center.
And that’s the latter building in the distance. It serves as the main museum for the study of the U.S. Constitution. When we went here 4 years ago (Philadelphia was the other stop on our D.C. trip back then), we went inside, but for now, we don’t have time to go in.
Looking south, one can see Independence Hall, the very birthplace of our Nation. It was in this former Pennsylvania Statehouse that both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed, whcih signified the founding of the United States of America, and it’s federal government.
First however, we have a rendezvous with a symbol of American Liberty… the Liberty Bell!
The legendary bell is kept in this building, where it is on display for all the world to see (given that they make it past the security screening).
The Liberty Bell
Detailed exhibits showcase the proud history of the Liberty Bell, which hung up in the steeple of Independence Hall, and, according to legend, rang on the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed (July 4th, 1776). However, as the steeple was rotted at the time, this is considered unlikely to have happened. Still, it has remained in the memory of millions of people as a symbol of freedom, and for all the liberties that the founding fathers strived for.
And here we are…
The famous crack emerged sometime in the early 1800’s, and despite efforts to repair it, it remained there to this day.
I suppose, that just like the Liberty Bell, freedom is fragile… Yet, freedom still rings true. Even if the tones of the bell are now mellowed and weakened, it’s symbol still stands as testament to the ideals that it represents. It’s around this sort of idea that our democracy was based off of, and of our efforts to promote the rights of all peoples. Hopefully it will continue to inspire others to value that special concept as well.
The center also offers a terrific view of Independence Hall. Let’s check it out!
Looking back out the same window. The Liberty Bell rests back in the room, which is nearly impossible to see here.
Independence Hall
Though tours of the interior were filled for the entire day, the building is still impressive to look out on the outside.
There was more security around the place as usual, and so, we couldn’t cross the street as we could before. However, there was a security checkpoint that enabled access into the place.
Yet another statue of Washington. I’m beginning to think that Washington DOES indeed have over a hundred statues…
Seeing this sign is very exciting. I pointed it out with anticipation.
The East Hall of Independence Hall. It’s currently unavailible to the public, and thus closed off.
This is the back of Indepenence Hall. It’s a very nice building, and very well built!
The park and surrounding grounds were also very peaceful! One could just sit here and enjoy the sunny day…
The West Wing of Independence Hall was open however, and had several special artifacts, such as…
An original print of the Declaration of Independence,
An original print of the Articles of Confederation (the pre-Constitution document that detailed the self-government of the colonies,
And the inkstand used to sign both the Declaration and the Constitution. It’s preserved remarkably well.
The building next to the West Wing was “Congress Hall”, where the first Congress met in D.C. for every session until it’s move to Washington .C.
This is the House of Representatives floor (the Senate chamber above is inaccesible). I imagine that debate here was as fiery as that in the current Capitol Building.
Our second President, John Adams, was sworn into office in this very room, soon after Washington willingly gave up his power him. It was an event that would be repeated 43 times elsewhere.
The Speaker of the House’s original chair.
The subject of this particular statue, Benjamin Franklin, despised being depicted as a toga, and by extension of a “god” of some sort. Who can blame him? It does look a bit tacky.
The Second National Bank was once the most powerful faction in the Country, until Andrew Jackson declared all out war on it, which he believed oppressed the people. The bank collapsed, and so did the economy, creating the Depression of 1837.
Carpenter’s Hall served as the meeting place for the skilled Carpenter’s guild of Philadelphia, and served as the meeting place for the First Contnental Congress, which drafted a Petition to the King to properly address the high taxes imposed upon them. When the lack of an adequate response came about, the Second Continental Congress was formed to discuss further matters (eventually leading to Independence).
It’s amazing that everything we saw today was within a small vicinity of one another… down one street you’ll find a cemetery, and down this one you’ll find a famous house.. it’s nice really.
Franklin Court was our next stop, where Benjamin Franklin had his house, and his Printing facility.
Unfortunetly, the house is gone, and only the framework of what it would have looked like remains… it’s a shame that the only surviving house today that Ben Franklin lived in at some point is located in London…
Still, one can find foundations here. Dr. Franklin lived here for much of his life, and even died here at age 84 in 1790. He had barely lived to see George Washington become our First President.
Nearby was a small museum with several artifacts and relics of his.
A pair of his bifocal glasses, which he invented. Thank him every time you switch between reading and visual glasses with these babies!
Perhaps one of the first “electricians” in the country, it was he that perfected the concept of a “lightning rod”, which could protect people’s homes from fiery devastation. He really was a genius with a curious mind.
Benjamin Franklin was also a terrific diplomat, and it was he that nearly single-handedly secured France’s alliance with the United States during the Revolutionary War. He was very well liked by the French, and the ladies adored him.
Benjamin Franklin also provided the first concept for the seal of the United States! Did you know that he originally wanted the symbol to be a turkey instead of an eagle? He insisted that it was “a very noble bird”. I am very glad that it didn’t turn out to be that way.
And the piece of wood to the right is a reference to his famous quote when looking at the back of George Washington’s chair following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, in which he stated:
“I have often looked at that behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now I… know that it is a rising…sun.”
And that it was.
Being the oldest delegate to both the Second Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, Franklin was carried through the streets of Philadelphia on this little chariot, lifted up by prisoners from the local jail.
Back outside…
We came across the first Post Office in service in the U.S.! It was Franklin that served as first Postmaster-General. Did you know that he also formed the first public library, and the first fire-station in Philidelphia? He was really quite a brilliant man.
Christ Church Burial Ground
This cemetery is very special, because it serves as the final resting places of FIVE different signers of the Declaration of Independence.
It’s a very old cemetery, but nonetheless generally well kept. Given the most famous burial in this place, I am not suprised.
The grave of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, one of the most visited burial sites in the Country.
It’s tradition to throw a penny onto his gravesite, so we did just that.
Franklin’s self-composed epitaph. He was a very witty individual.
We then looked at the other four signer’s gravesites here.
Francis Hopkinson,
The graves of George Ross, and Joseph Hewes (the chief delegate of North Carolina to the Second Continental Congress).
Dr. Benjamin Rush is also buried here. His medical expertise led him to be called the “Father of American Psychiatry”.
From the outside of the cemetery, one can still gaze at Dr. Franklin’s grave, from a fenced part of the wall.
Franklin’s resume. God did he do a lot…
We continued on our path, down the street, past the Philadelphia Mint (one of two in the entire country, opposite Denver’s), and onward.
Betsy Ross House
Though we went inside the house itself on the trip 4 years ago, this was only a brief stop for the exterior this time around. Betsy Ross was the women who sewed the first American Flag, with the famous “stars and stripes”. It became a rallying symbol for the young nation.
The courtyard opens up into the House Tour and the Gift Shop. We only stopped briefly for one thing…
The grave of Betsy Ross and her husband.
Located in the courtyard, we only stopped briefly to pay our respects. We then continued onwards yet again.
Elfreth’s Alley
Hold onto your Jeans (or whatever you are wearing), this is a neat place!
Elfreth’s Alley is perfectly preserved to the way it was in colonial days, and is perhaps one of the last remaining testaments to that era in this city, let alone the whole country.
And people still live in these houses, but one can only imagine that the prices are through the roof.
A spotter window, which one could use on the second floor to look at visitors at the door who came to visit the shop, or gaze at passing pedestrians back in the day.
Christ Church
The “Christ Church” in “Christ Church Burial Ground”, this place has even more signers of the Declaration and Constitution buried here! Including,
Pierce Butler,
Robert Morris,
Jacob Broom,
And James Wilson, who signed both signifiant documents, and was one of the first Associate Judges of the U.S. Supreme Court.
City Tavern
For our final stop of the day, we checked out the “City Tavern”, a period restaurant that dates back to the colonial days, and served patrons such as George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Paul Revere! Imagine the conversations that went on there!
If you ever find yourself in Philadelphia, I definetly reccomend this place, which serves top-quality food! Though on the expensive side, it is a Must-see sight!
With good rooms and tables of a historical vibe,
Good drink and cheer (I absolutely love drinking Apple Cider from goblets),
And best of all, Great Food! I reccomend the Turkey Pot Pie here. It is fabulous, with the best flakey crust. And Don’t even get me started on the Blueberry Cobbler!
Well, after stuffing ourselves full, we returned to our car, and began our trek to the next major city in the trip… New York City!
Though thankfully, that day isn’t here just yet.
After making our own “Crossing of the Delaware (River)” just like Washington and his soldiers did, we entered New Jersey, and travelled through Trenton and deeper into the state.
We are currently staying in Princeton, home of Princeton University, the famous Ivy-League University. We will be off to explore three different sites in New Jersey, before we arrive on Manhattan Island in “The Big Apple”!
How we are going to pull of that last bit, I am not certain yet. We’ll just deal with it as it comes I suppose.
So, until then, I will see you all later! Take care!
Mark's Historical Roadtrips! 